Clubs, businesses and homebuyers support World's Biggest Coffee Morning

Businesses in the Bognor Regis area were among those supporting the World's Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Bognor Regis mayor Pat Dillon, left, gives Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes a cake taste testBognor Regis mayor Pat Dillon, left, gives Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes a cake taste test
Bognor Regis mayor Pat Dillon, left, gives Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes a cake taste test

Southern Co-operative Funeralcare hosted a coffee and cake sale outside the funeral home in Rose Green, raising £183.

It was co-ordinated by Shirley Heaton, Lindsey Booker, Julie Sells and Amy White from the firm’s funeral homes in Rose Green and North Bersted, who joined forced to produce an abundance of tasty home-made cakes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shirley said: “After spending a lot of time between us baking some delicious cakes, we had a table laden with tempting treats and it didn’t take long for people to start visiting us.

Southern Co-operative Funeralcare co-ordinators, from left, Shirley Heaton, Lindsey Booker and Julie Sells with a selection of homemade cakesSouthern Co-operative Funeralcare co-ordinators, from left, Shirley Heaton, Lindsey Booker and Julie Sells with a selection of homemade cakes
Southern Co-operative Funeralcare co-ordinators, from left, Shirley Heaton, Lindsey Booker and Julie Sells with a selection of homemade cakes

People from all across the community heard about our scrumptious cakes and visited us for their lunch or tea breaks - one couple decided to come over all the way from Chichester.”

With a gazebo set up to keep the rain away, the team hosted a variety of competitions and held a raffle to win a luxury hamper.

Cakes, coffee and a chat with the neighbours helped housebuilder David Wilson Homes raise more £687.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Staff put the kettle on at the William’s Gate development in Felpham, inviting residents and neighbours to join in a morning of socialising.

Sizzling breakfast morning at Benchmarx's Bognor branchSizzling breakfast morning at Benchmarx's Bognor branch
Sizzling breakfast morning at Benchmarx's Bognor branch

Sales director Michelle Storer said: “Cancer touches so many people’s lives and the coffee morning is a great way for everyone to get involved in the fundraising effort.

“It’s also a brilliant way to bring people together at our new communities. There’s nothing like getting to know your neighbours over a cuppa.”

Arun District Council smashed its fundraising record for Macmillan, with the coffee morning total of £1,273 being boosted by an additional £600 raised by chairman Stephen Haymes from his Brave the Shave back in August.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Macmillan coffee morning is an annual event at Bognor Regis Town Hall and Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton.

Staff and visitors enjoyed David Wilson Homes coffee morningStaff and visitors enjoyed David Wilson Homes coffee morning
Staff and visitors enjoyed David Wilson Homes coffee morning

Mr Haymes said: “I am delighted that Arun District Council officers and councillors have supported Macmillan so wholeheartedly, whether by attending the coffee morning or by pledging money for me to shave my head as part of the Brave the Shave for Macmillan campaign.

“It is a fantastic total and would not have been achieved without the hard work of the staff and the generosity of the many local business that made contributions.”

Aldingbourne Tennis Club welcomed 20 members and friends for coffee, cake and a substantial raffle, all organised by president Hilda Bashford.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The event had been difficult to put together as the clubhouse is in the process of being dismantled and the club is waiting for the new one to be built in November.

But Hilda managed to press ahead as it is an annual club event that members enjoy taking part in and a total of £209 was raised, despite heavy rain on the day.

Bognor Regis Methodist Church opened its doors to friends old and new for its coffee morning, which included a variety of stalls and raffles.

Deborah Dean, editor of the church’s monthly Gazette, said: “It was a wonderful morning and the church is delighted to report that an amazing £460 was raised.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Staff and customers at the Bognor Regis branch of Benchmarx, a member of Travis Perkins PLC, helped raise £225 through a bake off, breakfast barbecue and tuck shop.

Staff member Charlotte Bennett-Jane said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the local community who turned out to support our coffee morning.

“We had an incredible time. It’s such a brilliant cause and one that is particularly close our hearts, as so many of us have experienced cancer in some way.”

Lisie Beeley, partnership manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “The amazing total raised by Benchmarx in Bognor Regis will help us provide vital practical, medical, emotional and financial support to people affected by cancer.”

Macmillan Cancer Support and Travis Perkins launched a partnership in 2015 and so far colleagues and customers of the builders’ merchants have raised £600,000 for people affected by cancer.